FRANCAIS

Fees: $8.75 or SEPAQ access card Level: Difficult Parking: Yes Services: Yes

This is an 11.2 KM hike with 800m elevation gain located in the Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie . The drive from Montreal is roughly 4h25m or 2h from Quebec City. The access for the trail is at Le Pin-Blanc campground (km 6), but when I visited there was a mandatory shuttle to take us to the head of the trail. Depending when you’re planning to visit also note that departures are authorized only between sunrise and 2 p.m. (between sunrise and noon from September 1st). Mandatory descent from the summit no later than 3 hours before sunset, a park warden will bring up the rear.

This is an in and out trail and one of the reason that it’s considered a difficult trail is the constant ascent. The trail is also very rocky and I would strongly recommend hiking boots and hiking poles. Bring also plenty of water, I had brought 2 liters but I ran dry before finishing the trail.

The trail is beautiful and even before reaching the summit you will have some nice view points. It is a hard trail and if you have different levels of hikers in your group and split up I would suggest a rendez-vous point at the top. There are actually 3 summits when you reach the top and there’s absolutely no cellular reception. Me and my buddy got split up but since we hike often together we waited for each other at the bottom of the trail

The views from the summit are amazing! This is my first hiking trail in Quebec that truly lets me appreciated the heights I had reach. From the top you will see the Malbaie River valley and several other mountain peaks around you. There’s plenty of room at the three different summits to take a break, take in the view and have lunch or a snack.

The trails are well maintained and identified and I have to say quite rewarding when you get to the top.

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BY SEBASTIEN ROBILLARD